In case you missed it, last week MomsRising joined with BLM Grassroots to demand justice for Ryan Gainer, a 15-year-old Black child who was experiencing severe distress due to his autism. When Ryan’s family called for help, instead of receiving care and support, the police shot and killed their loved one.

Any death of a child is devastating. And, when it is due to police violence, it is particularly devastating. Police violence makes our communities less safe. We need systems of support and care, especially for children and adults with disabilities.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
Date: Mar 18, 2024
From: Beatriz, MomsRising.org ([email protected])
To: Friend
Subject: QUICK SIGNATURE: Justice For Ryan Gainer

Ryan Gainer was only 15. He is described by loved ones as a cross-country running enthusiast who hoped to study engineering. Earlier this week, on March 9, Ryan was tragically taken from his family when he was senselessly murdered by a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy.

Before Ryan's life was taken, he was in distress due to his autism. However, when sheriff's deputies arrived, instead of providing care or support to Ryan and his family, they shot and killed Ryan for holding a gardening tool. This is yet another horrific story of a failed system where Black children and families in need of support are instead met with police violence.

Since 2017, police have shot and killed over 120 children under the age of 18 years old. [1] And Black children are six times more likely to be shot to death by police. [2] These deaths are heartbreaking, and the racial disparities reflected in these numbers are both stark and incredibly unacceptable.

Any death of a child is devastating but when it is due to police violence, it leads to distrust in the system and undermines the primary mission to protect. The pattern of striking racial and ethnic disparities only adds to this tragedy, further oppressing and alienating communities of color.

It’s essential to investigate, identify and correct those policies and personnel that perpetuate and exacerbate these disparities and cause so much harm.

We call for the termination of all officers involved and join BLM Grassroots [3] in demanding the San Bernardino County Sheriff department release all information connected to this investigation including the names of the deputies involved and for charges to be filed immediately.

Every day, hundreds of thousands of people dial 911 looking for urgent help. They call because they heard a loud noise or they have not seen an elderly neighbor for a long time and are worried about his or her safety. They call when a loved one is in crisis, and they have exhausted other options.

As we mourn yet another senseless murder of a child at the hands of those sworn to protect them, we must remain diligent in our commitment to radically reimagine community safety and our over reliance on law enforcement. Reimagining public safety begins by recognizing that not every social problem, not every call for help, is best addressed, or even addressed at all, by sending an officer whose primary training is in the use of force and law enforcement. Police are not one-size-fits-all social workers.

Our social safety net for those experiencing mental illness, particularly when they are children, needs to be strengthened. And still, when that social safety net fails – and harm is caused by those sworn to protect – accountability is essential to meaningful change, and ensuring these harms and tragic events don't happen to another.

--Beatriz, Monifa, Kelsey, Kristin, Nate, and the whole MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team

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